Hamilton e



(No Model.)

H. E. SMITH. GENTRIPUGAL MACHINE.

Patented May 15, 1894.

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NITEI) STATES BATENT OFFICE.

HAMILTON E. SMITH, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

CENTRIFUGAL. MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 519,97 5, dated May 15, 1894.

Application tiled January 18; 1894. Serial N0. 497,310. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be 1t known that I, iIAnILToN E. SMITH, a

I citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that type of centrifugal machines particularly designed for in an attachment on the bottom wail of the stationary cylinder or case, thus rendering the machine strong, substantial and durable.

The invention also has for its objects to provide novel devices whereby the bearing for the drum-shaft can be readily renewed without disturbing the operative connection of the spring with the cylinder or case; and to provide novel and simple means whereby the air currents flowing down, or descending, through the rotary drum will not encounter or obstruct the air currents ascending between the drum and the cylinder or case.

To accomplish all these objects, the invention consists in the features of construction and the combination or arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which i Figure lis a vertical central sectional view of a centrifugal machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2,Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 1.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, whereinu The numeral a indicates a cylinder or case composed. of sheet iron, or any other material suitable for the conditions required, and hav ing a bottom wall. 5 which is secured in posi tion in any desired manner, and is provided with supporting legs or standards 6 for sus taining the cylinder or case in a stationary position while the internal perforated drum 7 is rapidly revolving. -The bottom wall of the cylinder or case is preferably composed of a casting, and is formed at its center with a circular orifice surrounded by an upwardly projecting flange S. The central opening in the bottom wall serves` to receive a circular housing or boxing 9, preferably composed of a casting and having atits top portion alateral flange 10 resting on the bottom wall 5 and bearing against the flange 8, the construction being such that the housing or casing can be readily removed if occasion demands. The housing or casing is hollow, and is provided with a cover-plate 12, preferably secured in a fixed position by providing the housing or casing with recesses 13, Fig. 2, with which engage radial projections la at the edge of the cover-plate 12. The vertical d rive-shaft 15, to the upper end of which the perforated drum 7 is rigidly attached, is provided at its lower end with a ball 16, tting a ball-socket 17 in a stationary bearing 1S, for the purpose of permitting the vertical shaft to swing or oscillate on the bearing as a pivot while the drum and shaft are rapidly revolving. The shaft is provided with an adjustable collar 19, adapted to lie in proximity to the bottom wall of the housing or casin g 9 for preventing vertical displacement of the shaft. In the center of the housing or casing 9 is arranged a sleeve 20, having a flanged upper end which rests upon a convolute spring22, the inner end of which is rigidly secured to the sleeve, while the outer end is rigidly secured to the housing or casing. The spring, restingupon the bottom wall of the housing or casing, is thus firmly supported while it can yield in a horizontal plane. A bushing 23 is arranged within the sleeve, and is provided with a flanged upper end resting upon the upper end of said sleeve, the construction being such that the bushing can be readily removed for the purpose of introducing a new bushing whenever necessary for the purpose of maintaining a perfect bearing for the rotary drive shaft. The cover-plate 12 of thehousing or casing 9 is provided with a central opening, into which the hub of the perforated drum e y maeva machine, it is desirable-to render the Ydrum susceptible of yielding laterally or horizontally, to avoid excessive strains; and this is accomplished by my invention, while the cen# ter of gravity of the drum and the perpendicularity of the drive-shaft are restored.

i The improved construction and arrangement described and shown provide means whereby the balanceror regulator spring is housed in and supported by an ,attachment on the bot-tom wall of the stationary cylinder or case, which is advantageousin that it renders the machine strong, substantial'and durable. The removability of the bushingis ad- Wvantageous, in thatthe sleeve being attached to thespring cannot be readily removed and replaced; .and'without the bushing it is difficult-to'maintain a perfect bearing for the rotary shaft. Byproviding the sleeve, which :is attached to the spring with a removable bushing, I amenabled to conveniently renew the bushing without disturbingthe operativecon- .nection of the spring with the cylinder or case.

The top end of the sleeve or drum is provided with an attached ring or annulus24, which `ovcrhangs the drum, and the upper end of the cylinder or case i's provided with a ring or annulus 25, which overhangs rthecylinder or case. The-diameter of the ring .25 `isconsiderably greater .than the diameter of the ring 24, and said ring 25 is supported above the top edge of the cylinder or case through the medium of brackets or arms 26, in such manneras to ,provide a surrounding air exit .27, for the ready escape of the air ascending between the vdrum and the cylinder or case. By constructing the ring 24 so that it will 'stand in a horizontal plane, or substantially part of my invention, I do not deem it neces-- sary to further describe the same. As the convolute spring is housed Within the housing or casing applied to the bottom wall of the cylinder or case, the spring is not only .property supported from vertical displace- VVement, but it is effectually protected; and this is a desirable feature in centrifugal machines having a balance or regulator spring attachment.

Having thus described my invention, what -Iclaim is- I. In a centrifugal machine, the combination with a rotary drum, and a drive-shaft therefor, of a cylinder or case having its bottom wall provided with a housing or casing which is solely supported thereby, a sleeve arranged in the housing or casing, and a convolute spring located in the housing or casing, supportedthereby, connected thereto and encircling and rigidlysecured to the sleeve, substantially as described.

.2. Ina centrifugal machine, the combination with a rotary-dru m, and a drive-shaft therefor, of a cylinder orcase having abottom wall provided wit-ha central opening, ahousing arranged in .the-said central opening and having a lateral flange engaged with the bottom wall of the cylinder or case, a sleeve arranged in the housing, aspringflocated in the latter, supported `thereby and rigidly connected to the sleeve and to the housing, and a .cover-.plate mounted on the iianged housing, substantially as-described.

3. In a centrifugal machine, the combination with 'a rotary-drum, and a drive-shaft therefor, of a cylinder or case having a bottom wall, a flanged housing or casing secured to said bottom wall, a sleeve 'arranged centrally in the housing or casing,'a removable bushing fitted into thelsleeve and constituting a bearing for lthe drive-shaft, and aconvolute spring located in the housing or casing, supported thereby, connected thereto and encircling and rigidly secured directly to the sleeveysubstantially as described.

4E. Inza centrifugal machine, the combination with a rotary-drum, anda stationary cylinder or case, of .a ringor annulus secured to the upperend of the drum, overhangingthe same and arranged substantially horizontal, and a ring or annulus of `greater diameter supported abovethe top edge of the cylinder or case, overhanging` the same and providing a surrounding air exit, whereby :the-air currents descending through the drum, will not encounter the air curre'ntsascending between the drum andthe cylinder or case, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I havehereunfto set IOO my `hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

HAMILTON E. SMITH. Witnesses:

JAMES L. NoRRIs,

ALBERT H. NoRRIs. 

